Drag a piece to play a move, or pick one from the list. Arrow keys step through the line.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8 · ECO A76
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8. It is classified A76 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The Benoni meets 1.d4 with an immediate flank strike, usually reaching the Modern Benoni structure after 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6. Black takes a permanent structural concession in exchange for the half-open e-file and a queenside pawn majority.
This position can also be reached by 2 other move orders, including 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.Nd2 Na6.
Highly unbalanced. White has a protected passed pawn on d5 and a central space advantage, while Black plays for ...b5 and pressure down the long diagonal. Objectively risky, but it generates winning chances against opponents who play for a draw.
Aggressive players who need to win with Black and accept theoretical risk to do it.
This line is a variation within the Benoni Defense family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8.
Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8. Open any of them to load the position on the board.